Show I The Keynote Speech P THE RE keynote address of Homer Cummings as temporary torn torn- 1 L chairman n of the Democratic national con- con i at San Fran Francisco isco is at least contributory evidence evi i dence that the Democratic party is on the defensive t this Ls year ear It is an incoherent answer by bj an nn ardent to the tho charges of incompetency ci- ci and which were laid at the tho Democratic p door by Senator Lodge and others at the Republican convention in Chicago It is a character character- speech of a a. special pleader in explanation of shortcomings shortcomings short short- comings and in extenuation of a course which the speaker seemed to feel needed bolstering up It is an appeal for public clemency and on the grounds that wars are nrc always alwa's expensive that this one Was the tho greatest in history and that notwithstanding every crery criticism the Democratic party won the war It is a a. plea pica for mercy for the President who the orator says was stricken by the superhuman labors of seven years of ot unexampled service and yet was cas relentlessly relent relent- lessly ley pursued to his sick chamber by the hand of malice beating upon its door It is a a. wordy defense o of President o dent Wilsons Wilson's arbitrary attitude and covertly ertly and absurdly ab nb- ab- ab t insinuates that 11 his s senatorial opponents were j not i in favor of peace in the world because to consent to ratification would be bo to yield eld to the thc Presidents President's wishes Practically admitting he excuses iton it iton iton on the theory that democracies are arc never ne prepared for war var utterly refuting the tho stout contentions of ot Secretary Daniels and Secretary Baker th that t our preparedness was tho phenomenon of the ages Rejoicing that in pite spite of i investigations into the conduct of the tho war no Democratic Demo Demo- cratic official has been indicted he fails to substantiate that some sonic of them should not have been but countercharges countercharges countercharges counter counter- charges the slanders of tho the Spanish-American Spanish war and exults that Truman N Newberry is moving in the direction direction dirce- dirce tion of the penitentiary Whenever he assails an accusation accusation accusation ac ac- ac- ac which has bas been made against the party in power and finds it too difficult to refute Mr Cummings Cummings Cum- Cum takes refuge behind the flag and features the sacrifices which the American boys made to purchase the freedom of the world He thinks it was better to spend a billion dollars for shells that were nev never r exploded exploded ex ex- than to have one American boy minus a cartridge cartridge cart cart- ridge dge in the trenches yet he ho fails to tell ten why the shells that were were paid for were v.-cre never delivered Mr Cumm Cummings is not a a. good marksman He Ho used a agun gun n that scatters its shot In other words he be shelled jIm woods while while the the objects of his aim remain and unhurt There is much in in his address that must have bave been offensive to certain delegates in the convention convention convention con con- who were compelled to listen list t to it it as well asto as asto t. t to hosts bests of loyal Democrats throughout the country who cannot agree that the path of success in the campaign lies in a n. specious and spurious defense of the weaknesses and errors of or the foibles o of a headstrong ex cx executive e cuti As a rallying cry Tor unification the speech was not a success As a keynote it was out ont of tune tunc |